CIDG, SWAT arrest cop, 4 others for guns

CEBU, Philippines - A police officer and four other men were arrested for carrying unlicensed firearms at Pier 1, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Arrested were Police Officer 2 Romeo Santiago Bolaño, assigned at San Fernando Police Station, Dexci Bontilao Gomonet, Raniel Dalosa Commandante, Benhur Fuentes Gamutan, and Joseph Sereno Lagura.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics responded to the port after receiving a report about an armed person onboard a ship.

CIDG-7 deputy chief Superintendent Fermin Armendarez III said the five suspects were onboard MV Filipinas of Cokaliong Shipping Lines bound for Cebu City from Dumaguete City.

Armendarez said they received a report from their colleague, Senior Police Officer 2 Willard Selibio, that there were firearms seen inside a black Strada pickup van loaded inside the ship.

Investigation showed that Bolaño engaged in an argument with the ship crew prior to the arrest.

The police officer reportedly got irked when the crew asked him to proceed to his deck accommodation.

He allegedly insisted that he wanted to stay inside the van, but the guard stood firm and told him to follow his order in accordance to the management policy of the shipping company.

Bolaño reportedly threatened the crew and said they had several firearms inside the vehicle.

The crew immediately informed the captain who then called for police assistance. Police authorities arrived just when the ship was about to dock at Pier 1.

They recovered a cal. 9mm pistol from Bolaño, two cal. 22 rifles, cal. 9 mm pistol, cal. 40 pistol, cal. 8 mm revolver and several ammunition from the four other suspects.

Bolaño failed to show documents for the cal. 9mm pistol confiscated from him, hence to his arrest. He claimed that he left his documents at their office.

He further told the arresting authorities that he only intended to hitch a ride with the four in going to Cebu City.

Louie Arma, legal counsel of the suspects, said that based on the initial information he got from his clients, the firearms confiscated were intended to be used at a chicken/cockfighting farm in Mindanao.

“Uso kaayo ang kinawatay sa mga manok didto”, Arma explained.

Arma refused to further comment on the incident, saying he has not yet seen the affidavit of the responding policemen. — (FREEMAN)